# Harvard Dining Workers Authorize Strike

> Harvard dining workers vote to strike after university endowment hits record high.
- Title: Harvard Dining Workers Authorize Strike · The Boston Globe
- Summary: Harvard dining workers vote to strike after university endowment hits record high. Harvard dining workers voted to authorize a strike over wages as the…
- Keywords: harvard, unite here local 26, dining workers, endowment, wages, strike, news, local, Dining, Workers, Authorize, The Boston Globe
- Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/10/21/business/harvard-dining-strike-endowment
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: harvard, unite here local 26, dining workers, endowment, wages, strike, news, local
## Harvard Dining Workers Vote
Harvard dining workers voted to authorize a strike over wages after the university reported its endowment hit a record high.
## Wage Disparity
Full-time Harvard dining workers earn $30.25 an hour, less than peers at Northeastern and MIT.
## Strike Impact
Dining workers cannot apply for unemployment benefits during summer due to year-round employment.
## Endowment Growth
Harvard’s $68 billion endowment grew by $11 billion over a year, yet the university cut staff and open positions.
## Union Response
Local 26 president says Harvard built a $100 million surplus while workers seek a contract to build a life.

> workers "came to the table asking for a contract they could build a life on, and Harvard answered by building up a surplus and adding more than $10 billion to its endowment"
## Key takeaway

Harvard dining workers voted to authorize a strike over wages as the university's endowment reached a record $68 billion.